As a nongovernmental organization, PDM-Haiti was a good fit for the event because of its role in facilitating private sector growth in Haiti. In addition, PDM-Haiti is undertaken with the financial support of the government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The event featured the first public speech by Haiti’s newly named Minister of Tourism, Stéphanie B. Villedrouin. His Excellency Henri-Paul Normandin, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Haiti, also spoke. The ambassador is pictured at left visiting the PDM-Haiti booth with Communications Specialist Barbara Saint-Cirin.

The purpose of the event was to promote Haiti’s travel and tourism sector. Ed Cashman, the Canadian Embassy’s First Secretary and Vice-Consul, explained: “It’s the first time we’ve tried something like this. It’s my job to contact these organizations, so I thought why not invite them here? We sent out a few invitations and the response was big.” Cashman said several other international organizations had inquired about presenting a similar type of event.

The event was the first to be held in the newly-renovated atrium of the Embassy of Canada, which was damaged during the earthquake in January 2010.